A movie’s opening shot prepares you for the entire movie. Sometimes you already know a masterpiece is being woven together. Other times you buckle in for a wild action packed ride. Or know that you’re about to laugh the theater’s roof off. It’s important for a movie’s opening shot to set the tone.

Here is a lovely compilation of iconic movies’ opening shots put together by Filmnørdens Hjørne. It includes films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey and Apocalypse Now to Star Wars and Tron to The Matrix and Gladiator.